Vietnam Art Books -- Two ancient architectural sites have been discovered in Hue and near Ha Noi (January 04, 2004)

Two ancient architectural sites have been discovered in Hue and near Ha Noi (January 04, 2004)

Archaeologists have unearthed two different ancient architectural styles from Vietnam's last dynasty in a 5,000sq. km area around King Gia Long's tomb in the former imperial city of Hue, central Vietnam, in just four months.

Gia Long was the founder of the Nguyen Dynasty, which existed for almost 150 years from 1802.

The first discovered stratum contains the remains of Minh Thanh Palace believed to be built from 1802-1819. The second contains the remains of architectural designs of the late period of the Nguyen Dynasty. Archaeologists said the find includes remains of the royal family's kitchen and walls that separated the front and rear areas of Minh Thanh Palace.

Recently, archaeologists have found traces of ancient Vietnamese people from 3,500 to 4,000 years ago at the Co Loa citadel in Hanoiís suburban district.

One of the archaeological sites covers 132 sq.m in Lo Khe village, Dong Anh district, where archaeologists unearthed objects believed to belong to the Bronze Age. The find includes 372 pieces of earthenware and a number of pieces of stone jewellery and tools. A basalt axe, a knife-grinding stone, and pieces of nephrite bracelets, typical of the Phung Nguyen culture existing between the 15th and the 20th centuries BC were discovered. Several holes of different sizes, containing pieces of earthenware were also found.

Archaeologists have planed to expand the site to 3,000 sq.m in the near future as part of an archaeological research programme in Hanoi through 2010.